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Find Your Nearest Cell Tower Quickly and Painlessly
11th Jan 2024
How to Find Cell Towers Near Me?
Oftentimes, the culprit behind spotty cell reception is simply cell tower distance. Identifying where the signal comes from can help you deduce ways to improve your connection. The solution could be as simple as moving to a different spot in your home or installing a cell phone signal booster.
With a variety of tools available, finding your nearest 4G and 5G cell phone tower is not as difficult as you might think. We've tested multiple methods, from cell phone tower maps and cell tower locating apps to signal meters, so you don't have to.
Keep reading to learn how to find your closest cell tower.
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Best Ways To Find Cell Towers in Your Area
1. Cell Phone Tower Map Websites
A variety of websites offer interactive maps designed to pinpoint the locations of cell towers in your area. Since cellular providers are not obligated to disclose the location of their towers, the data on these pages is obtained through crowdsourcing and/or the FCC database. Here are our top picks:
CellMapper
This is our favorite website for locating nearby towers. It provides the most reliable, up-to-date 4G and 5G cell tower information for all major carriers. However, it's not the most user-friendly. Once you get the hang of it though, it'll display all cell phone towers near you as well as their broadcasting pattern, supported frequencies, signal strength, and more.
How to Use CellMapper in a Nutshell:
- Click the "Provider" tab and select your carrier (AT&, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) and desired network (4G or 5G). In the carrier field, type in 310410 for AT&T towers, 310260 for T-Mobile towers, and 311480 for Verizon towers to simplify your search.
- Click the "Search" tab and enter your address or select move to current location.
- Click on the cell towers closest to you and identify which one broadcasts in your direction.
AntennaSearch.com
AntennaSearch isn’t the prettiest or the easiest to navigate, but it's chock full of useful information. With a little patience and a lot of exploration, you can gain some strong insights into your local cell tower location, as well as lots of valuable information for the more technically inclined.
CellReception
CellReception includes towers and current user reviews in your area. However, data on cell towers is lacking. Some data is still better than no data, and this site works relatively well when complemented by other methods for finding your nearest cell tower.
2. Cell Tower Finder Apps
There are also a plethora of apps designed to locate your nearest cell phone tower, which is extremely convenient. Using your location, these apps easily identify nearby cell towers. Here are a few of our favorites:
Network Cell Info Lite: #1 Recommendation for Androids
Network Cell Info Lite is a great cell tower locator app. However, it only works for Android.
In the maps tab, you can easily see the location of your closest cell tower. Taping on the tower will reveal its coordinates.
In addition to identifying tower location, it's a great tool for measuring cell phone signal strength.
OpenSignal: For iPhone and Android
OpenSignal makes finding your cell tower easy. Though, it does not show you the exact location of your closest tower. With its cell tower compass widget, it points in the direction of the cell tower you're connected to.
With this information, you can easily orient your device closer to the antenna for better signal. If installing a cell phone signal booster, it makes setting up the outside antenna much easier.
The app also offers coverage heatmaps and speed testing.
LTE Discovery: Android Only
LTE Discovery is another user-friendly app that can be used to locate cell towers and measure cell phone signal strength. Like the OpenSignal app, it features an arrow widget that points in the direction of the closest cell tower.
weBoost App: For iPhone and Android
The weBoost App is made by Wilson Electronics and works for both Android and iPhone. It uses your location and carrier to identify your nearest cell towers. If you have a weBoost cell phone signal booster you can also use the app to install the unit.
Cell Antennas: For iPhone
The Cell Antennas app isn't the most well-known nor has the best rating, but it's a decent app for iPhone users. It'll display cell tower location information for all carriers in your desired area. Data is sourced from the FCC.
3. Measure Signal Strength to Find Cell Towers
How about some good old-fashioned reverse engineering to find your phone’s nearest tower?
All cellular devices operate over radio waves, which are measured in dBm (decibel-milliwatts). The standard frequency falls between -50 dBm to -120 dBm, with -50 dBm being the strongest, and -120 dBm the weakest (total dead zone).
The bars you see on your phone are an attempt at conveying this strength, though it’s up to your carrier to define the actual correlation. Meaning, dBm signal strength and the number of bars are somewhat arbitrary. T-Mobile's 1 bar could be equivalent to Verizon’s 3 bars, even when the dBm is identical.
Bars may be subjective, but dBm readings are not. The closer you are to -50 dB, the better your signal. The closer you are to -120 dB, say goodbye to your signal. Fortunately, your smartphone can display these dBm readings for you.
You can measure your signal strength with an app or via field test mode. To learn how, visit:
You'll want to measure your signal throughout the perimeter of your home and take note of the areas with the strongest dBm. This will indicate the general direction of your cell phone tower and where you can find the best reception.
4. Update Your Connection to Find New Towers
Phones are programmed to automatically connect to the nearest cell tower. However, sometimes they get confused and try to hold on to a signal that is less than ideal. By updating your connection, your phone can connect to the best tower for improved service
AT&T Tower Update
Resetting your AT&T network is easy.
Options for iPhone:
1. Turn the Network Off and Back On (fastest & easiest)
Toggle the "Airplane" icon off and back on to reconnect to the network. Easy!
2. Download iPhone Carrier Update
- Connect to your Wi-Fi network (or the AT&T network), then swipe up on the screen to show the iPhone Control Center. Tap the “Wi-Fi” icon to turn it on.
- Tap the “Settings” icon on your home screen, then select the “General” option
- Tap “About” and then “Install” to install a carrier update (if an AT&T carrier update is available)
3. Restart iPhone
When all else fails: Turn it off. Turn it back on. Voila!
Options for Android:
1. Turn the Network Off and Back On (fastest & easiest)
Swipe down from the top of the screen to the Quick Settings menu. Tap “Airplane” to turn it on. Wait 10 seconds, then tap “Airplane” again to turn it off.
2. Update Android Device
You can update your carrier settings by updating to the newest version of the Android OS available for your device.
- Tap the “Settings” icon, then select “About device”.
- Select “Software Update”, then wait for your phone to search for an update.
- Tap “Install Now” to install the update on your Android device. Once the update has been downloaded and installed, your Android will be using the newest carrier settings and the newest AT&T towers.
3. Restart Android Device
For this and all electronic devices: Turn it off. Turn it back on. *Chef's kiss*
Verizon Tower Update
Updating to the latest Verizon cell towers is a snap and can be done in several ways.
Restarting your device usually causes the location memory of your phone to reset, causing it to reach out to the nearest towers. If there’s a tower that’s popped up recently, your phone will find it.
Alternatively, you can simply dial “*288” and select “2” when prompted. This will cause your phone to update to local Verizon towers, which can take up to two minutes.
A final method is to dial “*22899” and press “Send.” A musical ringtone will play, and a recorded voice will instruct you to hold while your phone is being programmed. A few seconds later, you should hear a few beeps, and “Programming Successful” will appear on your display. Your Verizon cell towers are now updated.
T-Mobile Tower Update
To update your T-Mobile towers, you can try the AT&T method above, or this alternative restart method:
- Power off your device
- Remove the SIM card
- Wait a minute
- Re-insert the SIM card and power your phone back on
- Your phone should automatically perform a T-Mobile tower update
US Cellular Tower Update
The good old-fashioned restart method (above) is best for US Cellular customers looking to update their cell tower. Either go into Airplane mode on your phone (described above), or power off, remove your SIM card, wait a minute, replace it, and power the device back on.
5. Use a Signal Meter or Signal Scanner
Signal meters or signal scanners are handheld devices that scan available 4G and 5G signals to deliver cell tower locations and signal strength data. They are by far the best and most accurate way to find nearby cell towers. However, because of their cost, they are mainly used by installers.
Don't Cellular Providers Offer Cell Tower Maps?
Every US carrier has a cellular coverage map, not a cell tower location map. These coverage maps illustrate estimated 4G and 5G coverage across the United States. By inputting your address and zip code, these maps indicate whether carriers offer 4G or 5G services in your specific area. While this information is helpful, it doesn’t actually indicate the location of your nearest cell tower.
AT&T
- Search for domestic or international coverage
- Zoom in to sixteen times magnification
- Filter map data by voice, data, or prepaid coverage
- Search locations by address, postal code, country, or landmark
Verizon
- Search locations by address, city, or postal code
- Includes an interactive map
- Zoom in to six times magnification
T-Mobile
- Shows region and route data for up to five addresses
- Zoom in to eleven times magnification
- Search locations by address
The tools mentioned above are your best bet at finding your nearest cell tower.
How to Find 5G Towers Near Me?
Most of our tips and tricks are designed around 4G towers. To find 5G towers in your area may be a little trickier. 5G network antennas can be found on cell towers as well as light fixtures, top of buildings, and the like. Cell tower locating apps and websites have not caught up to reflect all 5G tower locations.
CellMapper is the best tool available that defines the location of some 5G towers. As 5G becomes available to more people and places, it will become easier to track where the towers are.
In the meantime, you'll know you're close to a 5G tower if you get a 5G signal. The more 5G bars you have, the closer you are to a tower. If you simply just want to see where 5G is available, Ooklas 5G map is a great source.
Located Your Cell Tower, But Can't Improve Your Cellular Signal?
If you've had enough of dropped calls, unsent emails, slow-loading internet, and poor signal, you have two options: a landline WiFi connection or you can BOOST your signal with a cellular amplifier.
Cell phone signal boosters are powerful devices that reach out to your nearest cell tower, pull in the signal, amplify it up to 32X, and then rebroadcast that boosted signal throughout your home or office.
- Boost cellular signal for all phones & all carriers.
- Flexible solutions: 1-2 rooms up to 7,500 for homes, up to 200,000 sq ft for enterprise models.
- Better talk, text, and faster internet. Reliable connection & service.
- Complete kits, easy installation, no monthly fees.
- More bars or YOUR MONEY BACK.
Check out or blog on how cell signal booster work for more infromation. To get started on imporving your cellular reception, here are our recommended cell phone signal boosters:
Our Top Home Cell Signal Booster Kit Recommendations
Cel-Fi by Nextivity GO X
Overview of the Cel-Fi GO X:
- For Large Homes and Offices
- Covers Up to 15,000 Sq Ft
- Up to +100 dB Gain
- Amplifies One Carrier at a Time
The GO X by Nextivity is the most powerful cell phone signal booster for remote areas available. It’s designed with up to 100 dB gain, the highest on the market.
This unit can seriously make all your signal woes disappear. The caveat is that it can only boost one carrier at a time. Though, through the Cel-Fi WAVE app, you’re able to switch between carriers as you need.
Super customizable, you have multiple outdoor antenna options to really maximize the amplifier's reach to your closest cell tower. You can reach cell towers located up to 5 miles away with the Quicksilver Yagi, up to 10 miles away with the Bolton Arrow LPDA, or up to 20 miles away with the Bolton Long Ranger. No matter how weak your cellular reception is, any of these configurations will keep you connected, that is unless you’re in a total dead zone.
Rated to cover up to 15,000 sq ft, it's best for large homes and small businesses. Indoor coverage will vary based on the strength of your outside signal.
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Bolton Victory Yagi/Panel Cellular Signal Booster
Overview of the Bolton Victory Yagi/Panel:
- For Small to Medium Size Homes and Offices
- Covers Up to 4,000 Sq Ft
- Up to +72 dB Gain
- Up to 26 dBm Uplink Power
- Supports All Carriers Simultaneously
The Bolton Victory Yagi/Panel cellular booster is our top pick for rural areas. Under optimal conditions, it can blanket up to 4,000 sq ft with stronger cell reception, which is more than enough for most people. Featuring up to 26 dBm uplink and up to 72 dB gain, it has incredible reach and can significantly amplify your existing weak cellular signal.
Strategically paired with the Bolton Quicksilver Outdoor Yagi Antenna, it works wonders in remote locations. This antenna is designed to draw in signals from cell towers up to 5 miles away. Distance from the signal source will no longer be a problem.
While capable of boosting multiple carriers at the same time, you may only receive improved cell reception from one or two carriers. This is because the antenna is directional and needs to point at the closest cell tower that’s powered by your preferred carrier. If boosting multiple carriers is more important than coverage area, consider the Bolton Velocity Omni/Panel Cellular Signal Booster.
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SureCall Flare 3.0
Overview of SureCall Flare 3.0:
- For Small Homes or Spot Coverage
- Covers Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Up to +72 dB Gain
- Up to 26 dBm Uplink
- Supports All Carriers Simultaneously
- 2-in-1 Amplifier/Indoor Antenna Combo for Ease of Installation
The SureCall Flare 3.0 cellular booster packs a signal punch for the price. It includes a Yagi antenna, which is ideal for rural areas, and a sleek amplifier. The indoor antenna is built into the amplifier, making the Flare 3.0 one of the easiest units to install yourself.
With up to 72 dB gain and 26 dBm uplink, it offers good amplification and reach to distant cell towers for a booster of its kind. While power is similar to that of the Bolton Victory, the Flare 3.0 offers less coverage and a less powerful Yagi antenna. It’s rated to cover 3,000 sq ft, but will likely only provide multi-room-to-spot coverage.
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FAQs
What Happened To The 3G Network?
All US carriers have sun-setted their 3G networks. The towers used for broadcasting it are being re-farmed for the 5G network nationwide. What this means for finding your nearest cell tower is that nothing will change. The existing infrastructure will have to be updated to reflect 5G on apps and websites, but your phone will still receive signal from them.
Why Is Finding Cell Towers So Hard?
Cell carriers don't have to publicize where their cell towers are. Most info on apps and websites comes from crowdsourcing or the FCC. Because neither of these is 100% reliable, finding your nearest cell tower can be challenging.
Often cell towers aren't the 200-foot monsters that you're used to. In the case of 5G cell sites, they can also be small boxes that blend into the environment.
How Do Cell Towers Work?
A cell phone tower (aka cell site or Base Transceiver Station) is a structure composed of multiple antennas that send and receive cellular signals.
Cellular devices within the cell tower's coverage range pick up those signals. This enables you to make calls, send texts, and access the web.
Though, just because there is a cell tower near your house, does not guarantee reliable cellular reception. The cell tower must have antennas that broadcast your carrier's service in your direction.
What Is The Range Of A Cellular Tower?
This depends on the tower's transmission power, the kind of signal they are broadcasting, and what sorts of obstructions are in the way. High-frequency signals like 5G and some 4G don't travel as far as lower 4G frequencies. On average a 4G cell tower's range is about 10 miles. However, trees, buildings, and even mountains will decrease the range.
5G cell tower range varies quite a bit.
| 5G Frequency Band | Located | Broadcasting Range |
| 5G Low-Band 600 MHz-1 GHz | Nationwide | About 10 miles but faster speeds than 4G. |
| 5G Mid-Band (Includes C-Band) 1-6 GHz | Urban and Suburban Cities | 5 - 6 miles |
| 5G High-Band Millimeter-Wave 24-47 GHz | Dense urban metro | Up to 1,500 square feet |
Contact Us
We’re here to assist with any issues you might be experiencing with poor cell service, questions about cell towers, how to boost your cell signal, or even just to chat about cellular or WiFi. Contact us today at 1-800-470-6777.
Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Cellular Info Hub / WiFi Info Hub
